Wednesday, May 13, 2009

RETHINKING DANDELIONS

Instead of using chemical weed control, find a couple of kids who are plentybored waiting for their dance class to begin,one who’s fidgeting while youget your tires rotated, orgrowing grumpy waitingfor big brother to emergefrom school. Pick a largebunch.

Dandelions are in the park,in cracks between side-walks,in empty lots. Irecently knocked on a doorto ask the surprised home-owner if she minded if wepicked dandelions from heryard. Dandelions are free for the taking, and twentystems make a fabulous if ephemeral craft kit. Peopleof a certain age learned to make these chains in childhood, but for today’s children the skill is likely to be a revelation.

A lawn studded with goldendandelions is not ‘an uglylawn’ as my TV justpronounced via Scott’sWeed & Feed. This is alawn like a ‘jewelry store’according to my favorite8 year old, jewels ready tofashion into the rings andthings she just learned.Bright yellow splotchesin green grass canbe charming when you re-labelthe view as a source ofpleasure. Young greensfor salads with hot bacondressing? Flowers for cookies?

How To Make Dandelion Jewelry1. Pick a bunch of dandelions, with longish stems. (Works with clover or wild daisies too.)2. With your thumbnail cut a slit about 1/2 inch long in the middle of the stem.3. Slip a second dandelion stemthrough the slit and pull gentlyuntil the second flower reachesas far as it can go.4. Make a slit in the second flowerand keep going until your chain is long enough to make a crown for a King or Queen, a tiara for aprincess, a necklace or a wrist band.5. To end off, make a final slit at the end of the last flower and loop the first flower back through it. Or tie the two ends carefully in a knot. Double click on any photo to enlarge.

4 comments:

It nearly ruined my 'perfect' lawn for good when my daughter's old boyfriend decided to do use a favor and spread it on my bluets, pussytoes, hawkweeds and plantains among other wildflowers that make up the majority of my lawn. And the dandelions are just another bonus in my yard.

Hey Wiseacre, When I had my herb farm I lived next to a development of new homes. Many of the owners were aiming for pristine lawn. I had natural meadow with violets, buttercups, daisies, chicory, Queen Anne's lace and assorted grasses. And I got official commplaints from the homeowners association for "harboring vermin" in the tall meadow. ESP

and oldengray, you made my day. I was trying to figure out if a comment at the Times would lead anyone to Garden Bytes from the Big Apple. You're the first, and conventional wisdom says I'll always remember you. Big thank you from a grateful Grammy as I try to figure out the blogosphere.